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A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Nashville. Written by Nate Rau and Adam Tamburin.

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Thought Bubble

The Nashville Electric Service launched a new mobile app as the power utility continues its efforts to improve customer service following the January ice storm.

Why it matters: Customers can pay their bills, track outages and change their service through the new app, NES says.

Between the lines: NES was bashed for its customer service following the ice storm, which left half the city without power.

Customers were especially unhappy with the poor communication and lack of updates.

Mayor Freddie O'Connell ordered an inquiry into the city's storm response, including how NES handled power restoration.

Zoom in: The app allows customers to report a power outage and get updates on service restoration in real time, NES says.

"This app isn't just a new tool, it's a commitment to convenience, flexibility, and easy access to the account information you need to stay connected and in control," Aleisha Johnson, NES interim vice president of customer relations, said in a press release.

The app is available for download on Apple and Android phones and devices.

Nashville Electric Service launches smartphone app for customers

NES releases a new mobile app to help improve customer service.

Illustration of a cell phone frozen in an ice cube

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The Nashville Electric Service" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/03/10/nes-failed-to-follow-its-own-communication-plan-after-ice-storm" data-vars-content-id="062d5857-2d82-41a6-94e4-ef361806c89f" data-vars-headline="Nashville Electric Service launches smartphone app for customers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/03/10/nes-failed-to-follow-its-own-communication-plan-after-ice-storm" target="_self">The Nashville Electric Service</a> launched a new mobile app as the power utility continues its efforts to improve customer service following the January ice storm.Why it matters: Customers can pay their bills, track outages and change their service through the new app, NES says.

News

President Trump headlines a list of more than 60 elected officials backing freshman U.S. Rep. Matt Van Epps for reelection.

Why it matters: The large swath of endorsements announced Thursday shows strong support for Van Epps amid a last-minute map shakeup.

Flashback: Fueled by Trump's endorsement, Van Epps, a decorated military veteran and former top state official, won a competitive Republican primary last year.

He went on to defeat Democrat Aftyn Behn in the December special election to replace Rep. Mark Green, who retired.

What he's saying: "I strongly campaigned with Matt to defeat the Radical Left in his 2025 Special Election, and it is my Honor to support his 2026 Re-Election," Trump said in a statement.

Zoom in: In addition to Trump, Van Epps' latest raft of endorsements includes Gov. Bill Lee, four state senators, seven state representatives and a collection of local officials ranging from district attorneys to county mayors.

State of play: The legislature drew a new U.S. House map, which switched up the counties included in Tennessee's District 7. A large section of Nashville is included in the district.

What we're watching: The qualifying deadline to enter the race is Friday, which will determine what primary opponents, if any, Van Epps faces in August.

Scoop: Trump endorses Rep. Matt Van Epps' reelection campaign

President Trump and more than 60 elected officials are backing Rep. Matt Van Epps for reelection.

U.S. Rep. Matt Van Epps. Photo: Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

President Trump headlines a list of more than 60 elected officials backing freshman <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="U.S. Rep. Matt Van Epps" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2025/12/03/tennessee-election-results-trump-van-epps-wins-house-seat" data-vars-content-id="4325df2e-7c2d-4c70-93da-bf59ed33db37" data-vars-headline="Scoop: Trump endorses Rep. Matt Van Epps&#x27; reelection campaign" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2025/12/03/tennessee-election-results-trump-van-epps-wins-house-seat" target="_self">U.S. Rep. Matt Van Epps</a> for reelection.Why it matters: The large swath of endorsements announced Thursday shows strong support for Van Epps amid a last-minute map shakeup.

Politics

The Titans will begin their first season under coach Robert Saleh with a home game against the New York Jets.

Why it matters: It's the final home opener at the old Nissan Stadium. The new stadium is expected to open in time for the 2027 season.

Zoom in: The Jets seem to represent a winnable first game. Like the Titans, they won just three games last year.

The intrigue: It will be the first opportunity to see if the new-look Titans have improved. The team invested in expensive free agents like added two first-round draft choices in Carnell Tate and Keldric Faulk.

It will also be the first regular season home game with the team's newly designed uniforms on display.

Zoom out: Schedule release day is always an opportunity for NFL teams to shine on social media. In 2023, the Titans went viral for their clever schedule release video showing Lower Broadway patrons incorrectly guessing the nicknames of the team's opponents based on their logos.

Watch this year's video, which features more Lower Broad shenanigans

See the full schedule for the old Nissan Stadium's swan song

 team's newly designed uniforms on display

Titans begin Nissan Stadium's final season against Jets

Titans open the 2026 season at home against the Jets.

A man waves a Titans flag in front of fans during a game at Nissan Stadium in 2025.

A man waves a Titans flag in front of fans during a game at Nissan Stadium in 2025. Photo: Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The Titans" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/01/20/tennessee-titans-robert-saleh-head-coach" data-vars-content-id="61be5d10-bc17-4030-bb9e-23b84c077def" data-vars-headline="Titans begin Nissan Stadium&#x27;s final season against Jets" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/01/20/tennessee-titans-robert-saleh-head-coach" target="_self">The Titans</a> will begin their first season under coach Robert Saleh with a home game against the New York Jets.Why it matters: It&#x27;s the final home opener at the old Nissan Stadium. The new stadium is expected to open in time for the 2027 season.

Sports

U.S. Chief District Judge Chip Campbell on Thursday rejected Tennessee Democrats' request for a temporary restraining order to stop the state from implementing a new U.S. House map that favors Republicans.

Why it matters: The legal challenges to the new map will press on, but Campbell's ruling is a critical setback for opponents.

State of play: Democratic candidates, including U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, state Rep. Justin Pearson and Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder, along with Tennessee voters, sued to stop the new map from taking effect.

Tennessee Republicans drew new district boundaries during a special session last week in hopes of giving the GOP control of all nine of the state's U.S. House seats.

The lawsuit claims the new map creates election chaos since it was implemented after the qualifying deadline. Several Democratic candidates were drawn out of the districts in which they had planned to run.

Zoom in: The plaintiffs asked Campbell for a temporary restraining order that would block state and local election officials from implementing the new map.

Campbell, who was appointed to the bench by President Trump, said no.

The bottom line: Since the qualifying deadline for candidates is tomorrow, the courts may determine the election is too far along to stop the map from taking effect this year.

A separate federal lawsuit and a legal challenge in Davidson County Chancery Court are also seeking to stop the new map from taking effect. 

Tennessee Democrats' request for a temporary restraining

National

Judge allows Tennessee map favoring Republicans to move ahead

Judge allows Tennessee map favoring GOP to move ahead

Tennessee Democrats suffered a key setback in their lawsuit challenging the new map.

Illustration of the Tennessee State Capitol building with lines radiating from it.

Politics & Policy

Former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry pulled a petition this week to run for Tennessee's newly redrawn District 6 U.S. House seat as candidates in both parties scramble to respond to the new congressional map.

Why it matters: Potential candidates only have a few days to decide to run following the last-minute shakeup from Tennessee Republicans.

Catch up quick: Republicans raced to draw new district boundaries last week that eliminate Tennessee's only solidly blue district in Memphis. The gerrymandered map splits Memphis between three districts and also shifts borders in Nashville.

Candidates who already qualified for the Aug. 6 primary ballot were drawn into new districts.

The big picture: Democrats are suing to stop the new map from taking effect, but they're simultaneously strategizing over which candidates should run for which seats.

State of play: The deadline for candidates to file to run in the new districts is Friday. (A new state law allows candidates to represent any House district — they don't have to live there.)

Flashback: Barry was a popular first-term mayor before a scandal in 2018 led to her resignation and knocked her political career off course.

She's maintained influence in Nashville politics and younger candidates frequently seek out her advice.

Barry ran unsuccessfully for the District 7 U.S. House seat in 2024.

Zoom out: Nashville Councilmember Jacob Kupin, state Rep. Vincent Dixie and former candidate Darden Copeland pulled petitions to run in the new District 7 represented by U.S. Rep. Matt Van Epps.

Reality check: Potential candidates sometimes pull papers to run for office but then decide against it.

Barry tells Axios she hopes the legal challenge is successful, but is "taking a serious look" at running in the meantime.

"After Republicans shamelessly changed the rules in the middle of an election year, we owe it to ourselves as Democrats to fight back," she says. 

Friction point: Before redistricting this month, Tennessee was on track for two competitive Democratic House primaries.

Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder was set to face off against Nashville Councilmember Mike Cortese for the District 5 Democratic nomination.

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen was facing a challenge from state Rep. Justin Pearson in District 9.

Former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry pulls papers to run for Congress

Former Mayor Megan Barry pulls papers to possibly run for U.S. House again.

Megan Bary on the campaign trail in 2024.

Megan Bary on the campaign trail in 2024. Photo: courtesy of Barry's 2024 campaign.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2024/10/28/megan-barry-congressional-race-tennessee" data-vars-content-id="ee47cd30-68aa-4e06-8330-72097284b1db" data-vars-headline="Former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry pulls papers to run for Congress" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2024/10/28/megan-barry-congressional-race-tennessee" target="_self">Former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry</a> pulled a petition this week to run for Tennessee&#x27;s newly redrawn District 6 U.S. House seat as candidates in both parties scramble to respond to the new congressional map.Why it matters: Potential candidates only have a few days to decide to run following the last-minute <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="shakeup from Tennessee Republicans" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/05/07/tennessee-lawmakers-pass-new-us-house-map-to-give-gop-a-9-0-advantage" data-vars-content-id="ee47cd30-68aa-4e06-8330-72097284b1db" data-vars-headline="Former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry pulls papers to run for Congress" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/05/07/tennessee-lawmakers-pass-new-us-house-map-to-give-gop-a-9-0-advantage" target="_self">shakeup from Tennessee Republicans</a>.

Nate Rau

Featured stories

Titans begin Nissan Stadium's final season against Jets

Scoop: Trump endorses Rep. Matt Van Epps' reelection campaign

Judge allows Tennessee map favoring Republicans to move ahead

Former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry pulls papers to run for Congress

Nashville Electric Service launches smartphone app for customers